The state board took action at its July 2001 meeting in Topeka to officially grant Tonganoxie Elementary School a five-year accreditation status.

"Continually achieving accreditation status under the state's school improvement system is a feat worthy of respect and recognition," said I.B. "Sonny" Rundell. "Only schools that are actively engaging students in the learning process on a consistent basis are able to accomplish accredited status under Quality Performance Accreditation."

Earning accreditation by the state board of education includes a site visit to the school by state and local education officials to review progress in the areas targeted for improvement in each school's locally developed improvement plan. The education officials on the visiting team submit a report to the state board of education along with a recommendation regarding accreditation status. Later the state board reviews the recommendation for action.

"In Kansas the bar is set very high for schools," Rundell said. "Tonganoxie Elementary School has shown that when we expect the best from our schools, our schools will meet the challenge."

Tonganoxie Elementary School implemented a variety of school improvement strategies which enabled the school to earn accreditation status. State education officials highlighted a number of the school's strengths including:

Meeting all of the recommendations made at the first visit.

Increasing ownership and knowledge base regarding QPA and school improvement across the staff.

Using and defining problem-solving across the curriculum.

Crunching the data without a great deal of technology during the cycle.

Student achievement improvements in math.

The number of strategies being used in reading.

The impact from extra programs, such as the Pre-K Academy, Jump Start and the after-school programs.